These are the assignments to be completed by 6th grade students during the second quarter of the 2012-2013 school year. When updating their ePortfolio sites, students need to make sure that their writing is interesting to read and appropriate for their grade level. All grammar and spelling should be correct and should be a minimum length of 3 sentences in 6th grade, unless told otherwise. Many of these assignments could be completed at home, if needed. Student will need Internet access and may need access to the programs listed below in order to complete the assignments.
In order to transfer completed work between home and school, the student would need access to the Internet and would need to log in to Edmodo and upload files to their library. Files uploaded to the student's library could then be downloaded to their computer at school and turned in for grading.
Assignment Description
Helpful or Required Resources
PowerPoint Animal
Student will use this site to "draw" one or more animals in PowerPoint using the shape tools like in the examples below. The examples were both based on animals on the site linked but some tweaks were made such as adding whiskers to the cat and using ovals instead of rectangles for the penguin
Student may follow the instructions exactly or make some changes to make the animal their own - creativity is encouraged.
Student must add some background color (Design / Background Styles / Format Background) or draw a whole habitat for the animal using the shape tools. No white background!
Student must add their first name in Word Art (Insert / Word Art & then change font, size & color) or sign their creation with their first name using the scribble tool
The PowerPoint file must be saved according to the standard naming conventions: Grade-FirstName-Animal (or the actual type of animal, ie, 6th-Alice-Cat)
Student must also save this as a PNG file. After student has saved this as a PowerPoint file, they should do a Save As / Other Formats. Select PNG from the Save as Type and click Save. When asked, select Current Slide Only.
Student can make more than one if they wish - either in PowerPoint or in Paint.NET!
Once the PowerPoint Animal(s) are complete, student should add a post to their Google Site in the 2nd Quarter for their PowerPoint Animal(s).
The introductory text must include what program was used to create the animal, a text link to the site used for templates for the "drawings" and why they chose the animal(s) that they did. This does not need to be a specific length but needs to be interesting to read and written at the student's grade level.
Use Insert / Image to upload the PNG of your animal(s)
The student's reflection needs to include what they liked and/or didn't like about this assignment and why. It could include what they found easy about the assignment or what was difficult. The reflection also needs to include what the student learned! Once again it should be written at grade level and should be enjoyable to read.
How to Turn In: Student will turn in the link to their Google Site post on Edmodo.
Can this be completed at home? If the student has access to the Internet and Microsoft PowerPoint, this assignment could be fully completed at home. Once the PowerPoint file and PNG were saved on the student's home computer, they should be uploaded to the student's library on Edmodo so they can be downloaded to the student's computer at school.
Student will add a 2d Revolver Map to their Google Site to track where visitors to their site are from. To do this, students will watch the video below and follow the instructions given.
The video says to click on Edit in the Sidebar but this has now changed. You will need to click on More at the top of the screen and select Edit Site Layout. Then you need to click the little plus sign (+) in the Sidebar to add the Text Box to the Sidebar.
How to Turn In: Once the map has been embedded on the student's Google Site, student will turn in a link to their Google Site on Edmodo.
Can this be completed at home? If the student has access to the Internet, this assignment could be fully completed at home.
Student will download PaperBlog.ppt and save this in their folder renaming it as they save it to 6th-FirstName-PaperBlog.ppt. Once it has been downloaded, student can click on it at the bottom of their browser and it will open in PowerPoint.
Student will name their blog and their blog post and will change About Me to About "Their First Name"
Student will write one to two paragraphs about something they are passionate about. This should be something that they could do all day, every day and not even realize how much time passed. It could be a sport or hobby or a topic that has a lot of importance to them like their faith or the environment, etc. Student must use proper grammar and spelling - no TEXT or IM speak. Capitalize the prounoun "I". Use punctuation. This should be treated as if it were online so the student should not reveal any personal information like their last name, where they live, etc.
Student should add a list of their favorite blogs or their classmates blogs to the Blogroll or replace the Blogroll with a list of their favorite sites.
Student will then decorate their blog by adding a background, adding clipart or other pictures that relate to their blog or their blog post. The written blog post should be the focus and not the pictures!
Student will save their blog both as a PPT file and as PNG for posting on their ePortfolio site.
Student will then turn their "blog" (PPT File) in on Edmodo.
Can this be completed at home? If the student has access to the Internet and Microsoft PowerPoint, this assignment could be fully completed at home. Once the PowerPoint file has been completed and saved on the student's home computer, it should be uploaded to the student's library on Edmodo so the student can downloaded it to their computer at school.
Student will save their 12 Days of Christmas Spreadsheet as an image for their Google Site:
Open Spreadsheet and go to Print Preview
Change settings in Page Setup to Fit to 1 page wide by 1 page tall and set the Paper Size to Legal.
Take a screen shot of the Print Preview using the Print Screen button on the keyboard.
Open IrfanView (on the desktop):
Use Edit / Paste to paste the copied screen shot into the program.
Crop to just the Spreadsheet by drawing a rectangle around the spreadsheet and going to Edit / Crop to Selection
Use File / Save As and save as a PNG type in your folder. The name of the file should be: 6th-YourName-12Days.png
Student will add a post to their Google Site in the 2nd Quarter for the 12 Days of Christmas assignment:
The introductory text needs to include the programs used for this assignment (Excel and IrfanView). The text should also include how the student's estimated costs compared to the costs estimated by the PNC.
Student should use Insert / Image to add the PNG image of their 12 Days spreadsheet.
The student's reflection needs to include what they liked and/or didn't like about this assignment and why. The reflection also needs to include what the student learned. Once again it should be written at grade level and should be enjoyable to read.
How to Turn In: Student will turn in the link to their Google Site post on Edmodo.
Can this be completed at home?
This assignment was set up to be completed at school as a Christmas activity, however, it could be completed at home if the student has Excel, IrfanView and access to the Internet as well as the knowledge of formulas in Excel.
Student will log in to Edmodo and take the Blog Commenting Quiz.
Student will comment on their classmates blogs using post-its following the guidelines in the document. Comments must be signed and must be specific to each blog being commented on.
Student will add a post to their Google Site in the 2nd Quarter for the Paper Blogging assignment:
The introductory text must include information about the entire project from the BrainPop video through to the commenting. This will probably need to be more than three sentences in order to cover everything.
Student should use Insert / Image to add the PNG image of their Paper Blog.
The student's reflection needs to include what they liked and/or didn't like about this assignment and why. The reflection also needs to include what the student learned about blogging and what they learned about PowerPoint, if anything. Once again it should be written at grade level and should be enjoyable to read.
How to Turn In: Student will turn in the link to their Google Site post on Edmodo.
Can this be completed at home? Steps 1 & 3 of this assignment must be completed at school. If student has access to the Internet, they can take the quiz and home. They can also upload the PNG of their Paper Blog to their library on Edmodo and complete steps 4 & 5 of this assignment at home. If they have not uploaded the PNG of their Paper Blog to their library on Edmodo, student complete the written portion of their post on their Google Site at home but will need to add their Paper Blog image and turn their post in at school.
Student will log in to Edmodo and use the Pixton Comic Maker App (available in the Middle School Group) to create a comic about Cyber Bulling. There are video tutorials available when using the Pixton Comic Maker App.
A storyline must exist that educates about cyber bullying and its consequences.
Student must use speech bubbles for character conversations & thoughts.
Consequences in the storyline CANNOT include suicide or arrest. Student should think about what might happen if someone they knew was being cyber bullied or was cyber bullying someone else.
Once the comic is complete and approved, student should add a post to their Google Site in the 2nd Quarter for their comic.
The introductory text must include information about the movie that was watched and about using the Pixton Comic Maker.
Student should use Insert / HTML to add the embed code for their comic to their post OR they should download their comic from the Pixton Comic Maker App as a PNG and use Insert / Image to add the PNG image of their comic.
The student's reflection needs to include what they liked and/or didn't like about this assignment and why. It could include what they found easy about the assignment or what was difficult. The reflection also needs to include what the student learned from the assignment. Once again it should be written at grade level and should be enjoyable to read.
How to Turn In: Student will turn in the link to their Google Site post on Edmodo.
Can this be completed at home? If the student has access to the Internet, steps 3 through 5 of the assignment could be completed at home. Student must watch and discuss the video at school with classmates.
Table of Contents
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Paint
- Paint.NET - a free graphics program for Windows
In order to transfer completed work between home and school, the student would need access to the Internet and would need to log in to Edmodo and upload files to their library. Files uploaded to the student's library could then be downloaded to their computer at school and turned in for grading.PowerPoint Animal
Student will use this site to "draw" one or more animals in PowerPoint using the shape tools like in the examples below. The examples were both based on animals on the site linked but some tweaks were made such as adding whiskers to the cat and using ovals instead of rectangles for the penguinOnce the PowerPoint Animal(s) are complete, student should add a post to their Google Site in the 2nd Quarter for their PowerPoint Animal(s).
How to Turn In: Student will turn in the link to their Google Site post on Edmodo.
Can this be completed at home?
If the student has access to the Internet and Microsoft PowerPoint, this assignment could be fully completed at home. Once the PowerPoint file and PNG were saved on the student's home computer, they should be uploaded to the student's library on Edmodo so they can be downloaded to the student's computer at school.
How to Draw Animals Site
Google Sites
Edmodo
Revolver Map for ePortfolio Site
Student will add a 2d Revolver Map to their Google Site to track where visitors to their site are from. To do this, students will watch the video below and follow the instructions given.The video says to click on Edit in the Sidebar but this has now changed. You will need to click on More at the top of the screen and select Edit Site Layout. Then you need to click the little plus sign (+) in the Sidebar to add the Text Box to the Sidebar.
How to Turn In: Once the map has been embedded on the student's Google Site, student will turn in a link to their Google Site on Edmodo.
Can this be completed at home?
If the student has access to the Internet, this assignment could be fully completed at home.
Revolver Map Tutorial
Google Sites
Edmodo
Paper Blog
Can this be completed at home?
If the student has access to the Internet and Microsoft PowerPoint, this assignment could be fully completed at home. Once the PowerPoint file has been completed and saved on the student's home computer, it should be uploaded to the student's library on Edmodo so the student can downloaded it to their computer at school.
PaperBlog.ppt
Microsoft PowerPoint
Edmodo
12 Days of Christmas
How to Turn In: Student will turn in the link to their Google Site post on Edmodo.
Can this be completed at home?
This assignment was set up to be completed at school as a Christmas activity, however, it could be completed at home if the student has Excel, IrfanView and access to the Internet as well as the knowledge of formulas in Excel.
IrfanView
Google Site
Edmodo
PNC Christmas Price Index
NY Times Article on 12 Days Costs
Paper Blog Commenting
Can this be completed at home?
Steps 1 & 3 of this assignment must be completed at school. If student has access to the Internet, they can take the quiz and home. They can also upload the PNG of their Paper Blog to their library on Edmodo and complete steps 4 & 5 of this assignment at home. If they have not uploaded the PNG of their Paper Blog to their library on Edmodo, student complete the written portion of their post on their Google Site at home but will need to add their Paper Blog image and turn their post in at school.
Google Site
Edmodo
Adina's Deck
This is the first in a series of Digital Citizenship & Literacy lessons for the year.Can this be completed at home?
If the student has access to the Internet, steps 3 through 5 of the assignment could be completed at home. Student must watch and discuss the video at school with classmates.
Edmodo
Google Site